Fluidic counter device

ABSTRACT

The present invention is to provide an improved fluidic counter device, wherein, instead of conventional devices, a pair of air suction ports are provided and preferably provided a pair of vents connected to respective output passages in order to obtain more stable characteristics than those of conventional device. The present invention relates to an improved fluidic counter device and, more particularly a fluidic counter device having more stable characteristics. The fluidic counter device has been used for providing two alternate outputs with one input, and a binary scale fluidic counter device, together can be made by connecting a number of the fluidic counter devices. A conventional fluidic counter device has been unstable in operation, and difficult to manufacture, because the device must be provided with an accurately formed circular path in passages in order to generate a circulating flow. Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide an improved fluidic counter device of more stable characteristics, which can be operated by air. Another object of the invention is to provide a new fluidic counter device in which the described disadvantages of the prior art are removed and yet the same functions are obtainable by one device. A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved fluidic counter device in which an accurate switching is obtainable by using only one device and which is easily manufactured, in comparison with a conventional device.

United States Patent Hanada et al.

1451 Nov. 21, 1972 r [22] Filed:

154] FLUIDIC COUNTER DEVICE- [72] Inventors: Kelichi Hanada, 28-14 Tamagawa 5- chome Todoroki-cho, Setagaya, Tokyo; Kimihiko Saito, 14-8 Mejiro 3-chome, Toshima-ku, Tokyo; Akikazu Iwase, chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, all of Japan March 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 126,574

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data March 23, 1970 Japan ..45/235% [52] US. Cl. ..235/201 PF, 137/815 [51] Int. Cl. ..G06d H10 [58] Field of Search ..235/201; 137/815 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,568,701 3/1971 Mon ..137/81. 5

19-8 Hiroh 5- 7/1971 Amos et a1 ..137/81.5 3,463,177 8/1969 McMillan 137/81 .5 3,238,958 3/1966 Warren et al ..137/81.5 3,313,313 4/1967 Katz ..-......137/8l .5 3,389,894 6/1968 Binder.... 3 ,495,609 2/1970 Swartz 3,528,443 9/1970 Swartz 137/815 3,550,607 12/1970 Sarpkaya ..l37/81.5

Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin Attorney-Clario Ceccon [57] ABSTRACT The present invention is to provide an improved fluidic counter device, wherein, instead of conventional devices, a pair of air suctionports are provided and preferably provided a pair of vents connected to respective output passages in order to obtain more stable characteristics than those of conventional device.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures rmmfinmvzmn' 3.703.633

\ PRIOR AIZT INVENTORS FLUIDIC COUNTER DEVICE The present invention relates to an improved fluidic counter device and, more particularly a fluidic counter device having more stable characteristics.

The fluidic counter device has been used for providing two alternate outputs with one input, and a binary scale fluidic counter device, together can be made by connecting a number of the fluidic counter devices.

A conventional fluidic counter device has been unstable in operation, .and difficult to manufacture, because the device must be provided with an accurately formed circular path in passages in order to generate a circulating flow.

Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide an improved fluidic counter device of more stable characteristics, which can be operated by air. Another object of the invention is to provide a new fluidic counter device in which the described disadvantages of the prior art are removed and yet the same functions are obtainable by one device. A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved fluidic counter device in which an accurate switching is obtainable by using only one device and which is easily manufactured, in comparison with a conventional device.

Now, this invention will be better understood in the following explanations with reference to accompanied drawings. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a pneumatic or hydraulic fluidic counterdevice according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of a fluidic counter device according to this invention.

In a conventional pneumatic or hydraulic counter device shown in FIG. 1, a pressurized medium is'introduced from an opening 1 and passes to the outputs along either right wall 2 or left wall 3. A portion of the pressurized medium also flows in contact with the wall 4 or 5 in an auxiliary path which also serves as the control path. The passages for control input are formed in the shape of a heart, and can provide a auxiliary circular flow in an anti-clockwise direction when the pressurized medium flows to wall Z as shown in FIG. 1 by virtue of the pressurized medium flow adjacent the opening of said passages. In this case, the auxiliary circular flow is not effective enough to change the flow direction of the pressurized medium flow from the side where the flow contacts with a wall to another side.

If a short time impulse flow is introduced from the opening 6, the flow is guided in the circulating direction by the auxiliary flow. When a greater pressure is generated within the control input 4, said pressure causes the pressurized medium flow to change the flow direction to the left wall 3. As a result, in the heartshaped passages the direction of circulating flow of the auxiliary flow is also reversed. When a new impulse flow is supplied from the opening 6, the pressurized medium flow returns back to the previous position again. The above mentioned conventional counter device is not very accurate in operation since it is dependent upon the exact measurements of the passage. FIG. 2 illustrates the fluidic counter device according to this invention wherein, an opening 7 is provided for introducing a slightly pressurized medium and from where the pulse fluid flows into the device. Opening 7 is connected to a junction 14 through which the flow from said opening passes. The junction is commu- 2 nicated with air suction ports 15, 16. The junction is also connected to a pair of outlet passages 11, 13. Outlet passage 11 is provided with a vent 10 and outlet passage 13 is provided with a vent 12.

In operation, when a slightly pressurized medium flow is supplied from the opening 7, the flow will follow a passage along either right side wall 8 or left side wall 9. Where the How is to the right side wall, it is discharged through vent l0 and outlet 11. In this case, a low pressure vortex is generated by the Coander effect, on the right side of the junction 14 leading air in from the suction'port 15 while .further increases the pressure vortex. When a short time impulse flow under a pressure Pi is'applied through the opening 7, both the medium flow with a slight pressure Ps and the medium flow withan impulse pressure Pi are switched from the flow in the right side wall 8 to that in the left side wall 9 under the effect of said low pressure vortex at said junction 14, and the flow is discharged from the vent 12 and the outlet 13. Thus, the suction of environmental air is now changed to the side of suction port 16, so that a low vortex is generated on the left side of the junction 14. When a further impulse flow is introduced from the opening 7, the pressurized medium flow is switched back to the initial condition in the same way.

An embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 has the following dimensions.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, Wj denotes the width of the passage connected to the fluid supply opening7, We is the width of passage of the suction port 15, 16, W0 is the width of each passages of the outlet passages 11, 13 and the vent passages 10, 12, Os

is the off-set, 2a is splitter angle, and h is the height of the passages, these values are as follows; I

h 1.0 mm

. Wj=0.5 mm

- Wc=0.5 mm,

Wo 3.5 mm

Os=0.25 mm 2a= 35 Ps=0.08 K g/cm I Pi=0.48 Kg/cm We claim: 1. A fluidic counter device comprising: a. an inlet opening for applying a low pressure medium flow and a superimposed higher pressure pulse fluid flow; Y

a passage connected to said inlet opening for directing a flow therefrom; c. air suction ports leading from the environment in opposite directions to said passage at least two outlets connected to said passage for transmitting said low pressure medium flow and said pulse fluid flow to the outside of said device; and e. at least two vents, each connected respectively along said outlets, whereby said low pressure medium flow is alternately switched between said outlets in response to sequential application of said pulse flow. 

1. A fluidic counter device comprising: a. an inlet opening for applying a low pressure medium flow and a superimposed higher pressure pulse fluid flow; b. a passage connected to said inlet opening for directing a flow therefrom; c. air suction ports leading from the environment in opposite directions to said passage d. at least two outlets connected to said passage for transmitting said low pressure medium flow and said pulse fluid flow to the outside of said device; and e. at least two vents, each connected respectively along said outlets, whereby said low pressure medium flow is alternately switched between said outlets in response to sequential application of said pulse flow. 